PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andre Armando (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Armando
vs
Gracie

175 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

159 cm
23
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Andre Armando!
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, Gustavo Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armando works the jab nicely.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Armando connects with a looping right hand.
Armando jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Armando pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Armando defends it nicely.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Armando sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Andre Armando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Gracie.
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Armando paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Armando gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Gracie stands up and waves to Armando to follow him.
Armando is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Armando throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gracie on the side of the head.
Armando throws a shot to the body.
Armando lands a nice shot that snaps Gracie's head back.
Gracie goes for a double leg but Armando avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Armando continues to drive forward.
Armando makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Armando controlling the action here for a moment.

Armando's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armando tries to bum rush Gracie with a series of wild strikes but Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jab from Armando.

Gracie shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Armando manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Armando wants to get back to his feet but Gracie passes into half guard.
Gracie passes to full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Armando is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Gracie takes one to the side of the head.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Armando as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Armando sprawls well initially but Gracie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Armando moves into full guard.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Gracie staying calm.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Armando knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie decides to stand back up.
Gracie looks for a takedown but Armando sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Armando sprawls well. Armando wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Gracie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Armando lands with a hook. Gracie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie takes one on the button.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Armando, as that shot connected.
Armando looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Armando fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Armando is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Armando counters with a left and a right that stings Gracie.
Andre Armando seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie tries to move into range but Armando moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gustavo Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Armando lands a nice shot that snaps Gracie's head back.
Armando stuffs the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Armando as Gracie shoots in.
Andre Armando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Gracie.
Armando tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Armando scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Armando to get to his feet.
Armando fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Armando moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Armando stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Armando wants it to stay on the feet.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Armando.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Armando looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armando is looking to reverse the position.
Armando is pushing Gracie's head away, looking to escape. Gracie manages to hold on to the position though.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gracie has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Gracie stands up from mount. Strange move.
A decent looking cross lands there for Armando.
Armando is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Gracie shoots in but Armando avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Armando pinned against the cage. Armando gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracie walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Armando.
A left lands for Armando.
Armando paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Armando throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into Armando's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Armando's guard.
Gracie perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to take his opponent's back but Armando doesn't allow it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armando tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gracie mounts Armando! Really nice guard pass there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Armando lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Gracie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gracie lands in his opponent's guard.
Armando is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Armando keeps moving.
Armando will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Armando looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gustavo Gracie wasn't active enough on the ground.
Armando lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Armando.

Armando moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Armando.
Armando will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gracie up against the cage.
Gracie looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Armando lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Armando gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gracie.
Armando lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is working for takedown but Armando is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gracie is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Armando is keeping busy.
Armando digs a right hand underneath Gracie's ribcage. Gracie let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Good body shot from Armando.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Armando.

Armando's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Andre Armando is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Armando connects with a single shot there.
Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Andre Armando has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Gracie.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Armando tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Armando to the ground. Armando escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Armando manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Armando scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Armando lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Armando lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Armando throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice jab there from Armando.

Gracie fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Armando to the ground. Gracie is now in Armando's guard.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stands and throws Armando's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Armando regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Armando is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Armando wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Armando wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.

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 Andre Armando.
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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Gustavo Gracie!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Gustavo Gracie!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Gustavo Gracie!

Gustavo Gracie wins by unanimous decision!