PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaspar Saroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gaspar Saroa is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gracie
vs
Saroa

185 cm
21
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
33
185 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gaspar Saroa!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saroa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Saroa tries to advance to mount but can't.
Gracie defending against the ground and pound.
Saroa is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Gracie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Gracie is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Saroa throws an elbow but Gracie slips to the side and avoids it well.
Saroa cracks Gracie with a big right hand but Gracie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Saroa goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gracie rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Saroa's guard! Nice work there by Gracie!
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Saroa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saroa is on top in guard.
Saroa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saroa preventing the sweep.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Saroa from controlling successfully.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saroa scoring with punches to the head and body.
Saroa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie looking to control.
Saroa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Saroa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saroa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Saroa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saroa trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saroa.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Saroa is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saroa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Saroa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Saroa.
Saroa is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Saroa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroa throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Saroa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Saroa postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Saroa wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Saroa chips away with some ground and pound.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Saroa controlling him for the moment.
Saroa throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saroa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroa throws a big right hand that misses.
Saroa postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Saroa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Saroa distracts Gracie with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Saroa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Saroa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Saroa trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saroa wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Saroa feints and as Gracie raises his hands in defense, Saroa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saroa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saroa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saroa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Saroa slips an elbow through the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saroa cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Saroa trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Saroa advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gaspar Saroa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Saroa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Saroa.
Saroa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saroa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Saroa thows a huge punch but Gracie dodges it nicely.
Saroa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Saroa tries to pass to full mount but Gracie defends it.

Saroa is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.
Saroa moves into full mount! Gracie won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Saroa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Saroa working Gracie over with strikes here.
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!
Saroa looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Saroa cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Gracie is rocked!

Saroa is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Gracie is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gaspar Saroa!
After the fight, Gaspar Saroa was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.