PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luis Gracia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Marfaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracia kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cucurucucu Paloma. Juan Marfaker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracia
vs
Marfaker

225 cm
29
207 lbs
9 - 10 - 1

208 cm
21
216 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Luis Gracia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Marfaker!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Topper Green and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marfaker throws a nice inside leg kick.
Marfaker slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Marfaker throws a head kick that misses.
Gracia avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gracia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marfaker pinned against the cage. Marfaker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gracia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Marfaker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luis Gracia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marfaker takes a swing at Gracia's ribcage but misses.
Gracia feinted with a counter takedown.
Gracia connects with a body shot that sends Marfaker's belly button to the back.
Marfaker misses the shot to the body.
Gracia appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gracia seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracia shoots in for a takedown but Marfaker shows good takedown defense.
Gracia shoots for a takedown but Marfaker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Marfaker throws a good cross that connects.

Gracia gets a double leg takedown into Marfaker's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracia is looking to work some ground and pound but Marfaker has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marfaker pulls Gracia in to control the position.
Marfaker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Marfaker keeping moving, preventing Gracia from controlling successfully.
Marfaker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracia postures up in Marfaker's guard and throws a big left but Marfaker blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marfaker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gracia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gracia postures up in Marfaker's guard and throws a big left but Marfaker blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracia working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracia with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marfaker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marfaker has escaped and now he's on top!

Gracia working for a triangle but Marfaker defends it easily.

Gracia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marfaker defends it easily.
Gracia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gracia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Marfaker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gracia isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Marfaker stacks Gracia 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 Marfaker!
Gracia trying to control but Marfaker flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Marfaker not allowing Gracia to control his hands.
Gracia turns into Marfaker and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracia trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Marfaker manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Gracia has a closed guard, preventing Marfaker from standing up.

Gracia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gracia wants to sweep here but Marfaker controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marfaker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Gracia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marfaker defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Marfaker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Marfaker slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gracia slips under a jab.
Gracia blocks the body kick.
Marfaker jabs Gracia right on the nose. Gracia blinks but takes it well.
Gracia misses with a takedown attempt
letting Marfaker counter with a right hand.

Gracia closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marfaker to the mat! Marfaker manages to get full guard.
Marfaker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Marfaker keeping moving, preventing Gracia from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marfaker has his hands on Gracia's head, controlling the position.
Marfaker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracia wants to pass the guard but Marfaker is keeping the position.
Gracia throws an elbow that misses. Marfaker uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracia's guard. Nice move by Marfaker!

Luis Gracia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gracia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Marfaker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Marfaker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Marfaker sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Gracia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Marfaker pulls his head out easily.
Marfaker sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gracia wants to control but Marfaker is keeping busy.
Marfaker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gracia trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marfaker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gracia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marfaker! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luis Gracia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Marfaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Juan Marfaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Marfaker swings for the body but Gracia moves out of range.
Gracia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Marfaker sprawls and moves away.
Marfaker on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Gracia. Gracia obviously looking to wear him down.
Gracia takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gracia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Marfaker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Gracia is rocked!
Marfaker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marfaker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marfaker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marfaker swings for the body but Gracia moves out of range.
Marfaker throws a low kick, looking for Gracia's leg but Gracia calmly moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marfaker. Gracia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marfaker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Marfaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marfaker throws a leg kick but Gracia moved away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Marfaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gracia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Gracia takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Marfaker tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracia tries to move into range but Marfaker moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gracia or perhaps it was just good defense by Marfaker, which made it look bad.
Nice body punch from Marfaker.
A solid body kick from Marfaker.

Gracia closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Marfaker did well to prevent Gracia getting side control.
Marfaker felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Marfaker is positioning himself well to prevent Gracia advancing to mount.

Gracia 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.
Gracia is looking to stall here but Marfaker recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marfaker is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracia is looking to work some ground and pound but Marfaker has wrist control.
Gracia being controlled here momentarily.
Gracia landing with the ground and pound.
Gracia wants to control from the top but Marfaker keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracia is looking to work some ground and pound but Marfaker has wrist control.
Marfaker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gracia throwing strikes from guard but Marfaker blocks nicely.
Marfaker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracia.
Marfaker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracia throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker looking for a sweep. Not yet Marfaker, not yet.
Gracia with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marfaker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracia.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Marfaker throws a big shot that misses.
Gracia shoots in for a double leg but Marfaker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracia drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gracia dives in for a single leg takedown but Marfaker sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luis Gracia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marfaker throws a body punch but Gracia moves out of range.
Gracia shoots in looking for a takedown but Marfaker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracia shoots in for a double leg but Marfaker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marfaker's corner calls for a 1-2. Marfaker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gracia fails with a takedown attempt.
Marfaker looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marfaker connects with a crisp jab.
Luis Gracia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracia walks straight into a right hand from Marfaker - that's dropped him! Marfaker jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Gracia from any more punishment! Gracia complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Juan Marfaker!
Juan Marfaker thanked the fans post fight for their support.