PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royler Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Athan Stamatis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stamatis is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lose Yourself. Royler Gracie had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 267.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Royler Gracie could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Athan Stamatis's chin.

Gracie
vs
Stamatis

225 cm
28
289 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

176 cm
36
184 lbs
47 - 25 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Royler Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 25 - 0, fighting out of New York, Athan Stamatis!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stamatis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gracie is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gracie is defended easily by Stamatis.
Stamatis lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Stamatis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stamatis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stamatis lands with a shot to the body.
Gracie shoots and misses

and Stamatis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royler Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wants to control but Stamatis is keeping busy.
Gracie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Stamatis not doing much here.
Stamatis working Gracie over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamatis is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Stamatis trying to pass the guard but Gracie defending well.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stamatis in particular looking to stall.
Stamatis scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stamatis looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Stamatis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Stamatis in particular looking to stall.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stamatis is working away from the top position though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stamatis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Athan Stamatis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Stamatis lands.
Stamatis lets loose with a powerful body kick. Gracie will feel that in the morning.
Stamatis scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good leg kick by Stamatis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Stamatis counters with an outside leg kick.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Stamatis connects with a nice looking jab.
Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Stamatis.
Stamatis throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stamatis. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Stamatis fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.

Stamatis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gracie did well to prevent Stamatis getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stamatis content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Stamatis pulls his head out easily.
Gracie trying to hold on to Stamatis's head to control him but Stamatis postures up.
Stamatis is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athan Stamatis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Stamatis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stamatis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Stamatis's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gracie under the eye.

Stamatis drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Stamatis. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stamatis is aware though and is defending well.
Stamatis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet but Stamatis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stamatis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gracie's head.
Gracie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamatis engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Stamatis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stamatis trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stamatis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stamatis defends it easily.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Stamatis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stamatis connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stamatis scores with a nice body kick.

Stamatis looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Stamatis drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stamatis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Stamatis pushes his legs off easily.
Stamatis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie has his foot on Stamatis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stamatis works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Stamatis passes into half guard.

Stamatis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nice strikes from Stamatis there.
Stamatis working over Gracie with some ground and pound. Gracie looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie trying to control but Stamatis postures up.
Stamatis seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Athan Stamatis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gracie takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Stamatis counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Stamatis drops his shoulder and cracks Gracie with a huge uppercut! Gracie goes down! Can Stamatis finish him?

Gracie is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stamatis chips away with some ground and pound.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stamatis postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Gracie covers up, he's hurt! Stamatis keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Stamatis and the ref steps in to end the fight! Stamatis can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Athan Stamatis!
Athan Stamatis bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.