PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigoris Manotis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gracie
vs
Manotis

188 cm
19
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anderson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Grigoris Manotis!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The crowd cheers as Gracie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Manotis doesn't seem phased though.
Gracie throws a wild body kick that Manotis sees coming a mile off.
And Manotis tries to counter it with a takedown but Gracie pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Manotis looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Manotis loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.

Gracie drives through and clinches with Manotis against the cage.

Gracie pulls guard effortlessly.

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Manotis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Gracie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gracie trying to get back to full guard but Manotis takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.

Manotis is working for a guillotine from mount but Gracie frees his head quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Manotis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Manotis throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Gracie is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Manotis is working for a kimura but Gracie is defending it quite comfortably.

Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gracie tries to roll over but Manotis keeps him under control.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is in trouble now - Manotis has advanced to mount!
Gracie holds on to Manotis around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Gracie is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Manotis.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Manotis maintains control.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Manotis's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Gracie gets full guard.
Manotis trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manotis keeps working.
Gracie prevents Manotis from improving his position.
Gracie with the ground and pound but Manotis uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manotis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manotis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manotis is keeping the position for now.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Manotis keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Manotis's guard.
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 Anderson Gracie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Manotis misses with a looping left.
Gracie changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Manotis takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gracie fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Manotis on the side of the head.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Manotis.
Manotis missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Manotis throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Good work by Manotis as he checks the leg kick.
Manotis takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to clinch but Manotis is having none of it.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Manotis.
Manotis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manotis throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Manotis.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Manotis is quick to defend against it.

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Manotis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Manotis's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manotis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracie keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Manotis's head.
Manotis trying to control the position.
Anderson Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Manotis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Manotis in his guard.

Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manotis manages to get himself to full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manotis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Manotis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Manotis isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gracie stacks Manotis on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gracie!

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Manotis is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manotis is trying to stick to Gracie's back but Gracie is turning into Manotis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Manotis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gracie.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manotis looking for a sweep. Not yet Manotis, not yet.
Manotis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie won't allow Manotis to pass to mount.
Manotis is thwarting Gracie's attempts to control the position.

Manotis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manotis defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Manotis from controlling successfully.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Manotis pushes down on Gracie's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Manotis tries to pass.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Manotis can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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 Anderson Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Manotis controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.

Manotis looking for a guillotine here but Gracie defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie stands and throws Manotis's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manotis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manotis is trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Manotis is trying to improve his position.
Gracie working the head with strikes.
Manotis tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Manotis!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manotis tries to improve his position but Gracie has taken his back! Gracie has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Manotis tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Gracie pushes Manotis away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Anderson Gracie!
A victorious Anderson Gracie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.