PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Strong

165 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bubba Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brett Strong!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Strong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Strong is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Gracie makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Strong gets a clinch.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.
Strong is trying to pull guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Strong is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gracie can't fight it off and eventually Strong manages to take the fight to the floor. Gracie looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Strong postures up.
Gracie wants to stand but Strong is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gracie uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gracie misses with a takedown
and Strong makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to land knees in the clinch but Strong avoids the damage to the body.
Gracie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Strong blocks with his arms.
Strong jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gracie walks away with a smile on his face. Strong gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Strong as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Strong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bubba Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Strong counters with a straight right hand.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Strong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Strong manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Strong instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Gracie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Strong managing to block the knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Strong is blocking nicely.
Gracie landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Strong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Strong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Gracie forces Strong back against the cage and clinches.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Gracie looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Strong is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strong blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gracie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Strong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Gracie.
Gracie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Strong has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt

and Strong decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gracie's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Strong is controlling him.
Strong wants to stand but Gracie is controlling his posture from full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gracie uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Strong throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracie was covering up waiting for the punch and Strong finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong with a nice head shot there.

Gracie wriggles free and stands up.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Strong shows good takedown defense.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Strong manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gracie tries to clinch up but Strong circles away and keeps his distance.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gracie was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
You can see the frustration on Strong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gracie stands up and beckons Strong to his feet.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Strong circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Strong has managed to clinch.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Strong can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strong blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strong blocks it with crossed arms.
Gracie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Strong.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie tries to clinch

and Strong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Strong.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Strong blocks with his arms.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strong is trying to break free.
Strong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Gracie gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Strong avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Strong tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie trying to land knees to the body.

Strong has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Gracie is trying to keep an underhook but Strong manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Strong prevents Gracie from standing back up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Brett Strong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Strong scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gracie tries to kick Strong off but Strong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Strong is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Strong is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Strong prevents Gracie from standing back up.
Strong is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gracie manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie is looking to clinch but Strong is avoiding it.
Gracie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Strong defends well and Gracie ends up having to push Strong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gracie is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bubba Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Strong.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Strong has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.

Strong jumps into guard, dragging Gracie to the mat.
Strong keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Strong looking for a sweep. Not yet Strong, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Strong's guard.

Gracie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Strong keeps it at a distance.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strong was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gracie wants to stand but Strong is controlling his posture from full guard.

Strong is working an open guard so Gracie takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strong looking for submissions off his back.
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 decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Gracie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Strong!

Gracie has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Strong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Strong swats away the attempt to clinch by Gracie.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Strong to the mat! Strong manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Gracie dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gracie decides to stand back up. Gracie steps back and let's Strong get back to his feet.
Gracie tries to clinch but Strong moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

Strong pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Strong blocks with his arms.

Strong manages to break the clinch.
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Strong, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Strong against the cage but Strong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Strong swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gracie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Strong did well to prevent Gracie getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong regains full guard. Nicely done.
Strong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gracie gets to his feet - Strong follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie rushes Strong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Strong is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gracie gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gracie as Strong tries to tie him up.
Gracie misses with a knee strike.
Gracie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gracie throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Strong blocks it with crossed arms.
Strong is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gracie to keep the fight standing.
Gracie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gracie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gracie lands a good knee to the midsection. Strong won't want to take too many of those.
Strong has Gracie pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracie manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bubba Gracie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bubba Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Strong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to throw knees to the head but Strong is blocking nicely.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Strong.
Gracie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gracie lands a knee to the head.
Strong tries to pull guard but Gracie forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Strong tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gracie smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Gracie with that takedown attempt.
Strong looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Gracie moves into the clinch successfully.
Strong is trying to pull guard but Gracie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Strong is looking to take this one to the mat.
Gracie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Strong is defending well for now.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to break the clinch but Gracie is controlling the position.
Strong changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gracie fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Strong takes a knee to the side of the body.
Strong stalling against the cage.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Brett Strong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Strong.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bubba Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

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