PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Pointek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Hydraulix 13.5 - D.A.V.E. the Drummer & Alex Calver. The crowd seem to be enjoying Pointek's choice of entrance music: Sevendust - Enemy. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Pointek

183 cm
19
195 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

186 cm
22
199 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Team S.W.A.T.

5th Round

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Pointek!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Gracie!
Nice combo by Gracie! Oh, that's hurt him - Pointek falls to the canvas and Gracie follows him into side control.

Pointek is rocked!

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pointek is still in real trouble! Can Gracie finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pointek pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Pointek seems to have recovered his senses.
Pointek is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Pointek stops Gracie from passing to mount.
Pointek 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 trying to control the position but Pointek is working away.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pointek throws a chopping leg kick but Gracie manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gracie lands a slapping body shot.
Gracie moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Gracie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pointek throws a head kick that misses.

Gracie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pointek's guard.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

Pointek is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Pointek looks gassed!
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Pointek wants to stand and escape but Gracie is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Pointek.
Gracie misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to bum rush Pointek with a series of wild strikes but Pointek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pointek pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pointek swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pointek takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pointek throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie misses the jab.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pointek is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Pointek circles away and we're back to standing.
Gracie uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pointek has time to react.
Pointek throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Pointek fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Pointek tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mike Pointek is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pointek shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie lands a body shot.
Mike Pointek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie throws a nice looking combination but Pointek bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Pointek swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pointek kicks Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Gracie catches Pointek with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pointek throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

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

Aaron Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pointek throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie misses with a double jab
and Pointek counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick from Pointek lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
A slow jab from Pointek misses its intended target.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Pointek.
Pointek showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throws a jab when Pointek was well out of range.
Pointek throws a head kick that misses.
Pointek is breathing heavily.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Pointek keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pointek throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Aaron Gracie is winning the standup battle so far.
Pointek misses with a leg kick.
Pointek misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pointek pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gracie will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good exchange - Gracie coming out on top.
Pointek takes one on the button.
Gracie paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Pointek sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pointek lands a head kick!
Pointek throws a sloppy head kick
and Gracie counters with a left and a right that stings Pointek.
Pointek is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gracie.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Gracie waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Pointek.
Gracie misses with a jab to the body
and Pointek counters with a head kick.
Gracie throws out a loose jab but Pointek uses good head movement to avoid it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pointek!
Gracie defending well as Pointek loads up on a big left hand.
Pointek misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pointek throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pointek counters with a big head kick but Gracie shrugs it off.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie stops Pointek from standing up.
Gracie pushes down on Pointek's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pointek wants to get back to his feet.
Gracie passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pointek has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pointek!

Pointek stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aaron Gracie will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Gracie misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Pointek.

Pointek connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Gracie to the floor! Pointek dives in looking for the finish!

Gracie is rocked!

It looks like Aaron Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.
Pointek wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Pointek manages to pass to mount!
Gracie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie regains half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Pointek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pointek stands up out of the half guard.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Pointek throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Pointek throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Pointek has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Pointek tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pointek manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Good exchange - Pointek coming out on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pointek throws a combination that misses
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pointek.
Pointek slips a jab from Gracie.
Aaron Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pointek's corner calls for a 1-2. Pointek obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A punch combination from Pointek misses.
Pointek misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pointek fails to land with a series of punches.
Pointek jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tests Pointek's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the body.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Mike Pointek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie stands and throws Pointek's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Pointek's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pointek is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pointek's legs.
Pointek misses with a strike from the bottom.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pointek is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gracie is controlling him well.
Pointek manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie wants to free his trapped foot but Pointek is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Pointek.
Well Gracie has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 George Francis scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Aaron Gracie!

Aaron Gracie wins by unanimous decision!