PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joao Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessandro Rocco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Gracie
vs
Rocco

167 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joao Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alessandro Rocco!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Rocco does no damage.

Rocco drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie wants to control but Rocco postures up.
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard.

Rocco decides to stand back up. Rocco steps back and let's Gracie get back to his feet.

Gracie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Rocco is keeping the position.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Rocco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocco manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Rocco's guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rocco swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.
Rocco trying to keep a closed guard but Gracie is proving a slippery customer.
Rocco thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Rocco.
Rocco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.

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.

That's two 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.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Rocco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rocco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rocco looks winded!

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.
Gracie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gracie seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rocco for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocco keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rocco throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.

Gracie closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rocco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rocco doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie is taking a breather. Rocco 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.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Gracie dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Gracie tries to keep at a distance but Rocco has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gracie wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rocco breaks the clinch.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Rocco tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rocco manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gracie looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rocco is fending him off so far but Gracie persists. Nope, Rocco circles away and we're back to standing.

Rocco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stalling in the clinch but Rocco improves position.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rocco has him pressed against the cage.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rocco pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gracie sets himself, and Rocco steps forward looking for the clinch! Gracie avoids it this time.
Rocco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rocco as he avoids it easily.

Gracie feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Rocco is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Gracie presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Rocco is breathing heavily.

Rocco drags the fight down to the ground.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Rocco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rocco manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Rocco's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocco trying to control the position.
Gracie controlling from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rocco keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is really struggling to control Rocco but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rocco's guard.
Gracie stalling.
Gracie's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Gracie.

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.
Gracie is keen to just control but Rocco is a slippery customer.
Gracie with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Rocco is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Rocco's guard.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rocco keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessandro Rocco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rocco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gracie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rocco wants to get back to his feet but Gracie passes into half guard.

Gracie uses his free foot to push down on Rocco's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rocco.

Gracie is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rocco can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rocco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Rocco is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.

Gracie swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joao Gracie!