PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between EJ Tap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tap comes into the arena with Pop Lock and Drop It blaring out of the sound system. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Tap
vs
Gracie

170 cm
24
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
178 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

TFP Graphics
Syndicate Drugs

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, EJ Tap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie defending well as Tap loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tap throws a big shot that misses.
Tap throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
EJ Tap seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Tap.
Tap throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie moves out of range as Tap strikes.
Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tap looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tap throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is pushing down on Tap's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tap is fighting to maintain full guard but Gracie has managed to sneak the leg through.

Gracie seems to be working for a kimura but Tap defends the submission attempt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gracie connects with a nice short shot to Tap's temple.

Tap is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Tap wants to get back to full guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Tap tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Tap is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Tap defending well.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tap scores with a hook to the body. Gracie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gracie looks gassed!
Gracie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Royce Gracie has been cut.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Tap is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gracie Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Tap's back instead.
Gracie is trying to stick to Tap's back but Tap is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tap passes Gracie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Tap in his half guard.

Tap seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tap is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tap is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gracie defends it well.

Tap wants to work for an arm triangle but Gracie is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Tap prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie is trying to keep Tap in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tap wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Tap tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tap's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tap preventing the sweep.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie wants to improve his position but instead Tap has moved into half guard.

Tap is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

EJ Tap dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tap doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tap's guard now.
Tap lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tap working for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is in no mood to give up.

Tap is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gracie has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Tap jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gracie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gracie and Tap has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tap's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tap's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Tap up.

Tap is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Gracie doesn't have the hooks in and Tap manages to turn into his guard.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tap drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tap jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tap can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gracie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tap 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 wants to sweep but no luck.
Tap passes into half guard.
Tap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Royce Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tap counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gracie!
Tap throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tap unloads with some shots from mount but Gracie bucks and avoids them well.
Tap lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gracie can't escape the position.
Gracie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tap looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tap sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tap wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.

Tap is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gracie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tap thowing shots but they're missing.

Tap looking for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is having none of it.
Tap unloads with some shots from mount but Gracie bucks and avoids them well.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Tap sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Royce Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
That's time! Tap's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Tap.
Gracie slips a jab from Tap.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tap counters with a takedown into side control.

Tap working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tap might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tap postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tap preventing the sweep.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Tap from controlling successfully.
Tap stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Tap content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tap missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
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.
Tap trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tap.

Tap drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tap wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tap.
Tap 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.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for the RNC.
Tap rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Tap moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tap swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Tap looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tap tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie stands and throws Tap's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Gracie tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gracie has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tap is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie is trying to get an arm triangle but Tap is defending well.
Tap manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Tap looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tap missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tap missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
EJ Tap showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tap has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Tap!