PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JB Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Octavio Gimenez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Superstitious . The key to victory for JB Gracie has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gracie
vs
Gimenez

172 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, JB Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Octavio Gimenez!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gimenez doesn't seem bothered though.
Gracie smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Gimenez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Gracie pushes Gimenez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Gimenez breaks the clinch.
Gimenez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gracie counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie scores with a body shot.
Gimenez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Gimenez blocks a head kick by Gracie.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gimenez is defended easily by Gracie.

Gimenez moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.

Gimenez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimenez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gracie lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Gimenez tightens his grip and picks Gracie up, before dumping him to the ground. Gracie manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gimenez working some strikes from top position.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
My spies in Soul Supremacy Rio inform me that Gimenez has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gimenez is controlling him.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gimenez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gimenez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gimenez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gimenez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gimenez is still trying to improve position.
Gracie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gimenez looking for a sweep. Not yet Gimenez, not yet.
Gimenez trying to control the position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gimenez at a distance.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie tries to counter with a takedown but Gimenez is quick to defend against it.
JB Gracie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Octavio Gimenez.
Gracie lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gimenez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gracie getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gimenez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gracie finds it's way round the side to connect with Gimenez's head.
Danga de danga de dang - Gracie scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gimenez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gimenez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gracie takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gimenez is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gracie tries to bench press Gimenez off him but Gimenez keeps the position.
Gracie trying to remain calm as Gimenez controls from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JB Gracie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gimenez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gimenez is looking to advance position but Gracie won't allow it.
Gimenez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gimenez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Gimenez in his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie trying to control from the bottom.
Gimenez stalling.
Gimenez slips a nice elbow through Gracie's hands, connecting with Gracie's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Gimenez postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gimenez in particular looking to stall.
Octavio Gimenez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gimenez is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gimenez 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.
Gimenez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie has hold of Gimenez's hands but Gimenez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

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.
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. Gimenez connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Gracie won't allow Gimenez to pass to mount.
Gimenez lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gimenez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Gimenez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Gimenez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Gimenez gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gimenez lands strikes from half guard.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Gimenez controlling the action here.
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. Gimenez connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gimenez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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. Gimenez connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Gimenez lands with a punch from half guard.
Still in half guard, Gimenez seems content to control.
Gimenez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Well, if Gimenez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
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.

Octavio Gimenez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gimenez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gracie sneaks out the side door and pushes Gimenez away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Gracie closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracie cracks Gimenez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Octavio Gimenez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gimenez darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.

Gimenez lands a takedown into guard.
Gimenez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gimenez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gimenez is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gimenez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gimenez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gimenez lands a couple of digs.
Gimenez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gimenez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Gimenez from controlling successfully.
Gimenez content to stall in guard here.
Gimenez lands a couple of elbows.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Gimenez moves into the clinch.

Gimenez lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position but Gimenez postures up.
Gimenez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gimenez cracks Gracie with a solid left hand.
Gimenez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Gimenez stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gimenez connects with a couple of short punches.
Gimenez 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.
Gimenez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Gimenez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Gimenez 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 referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

And that's the end of the fight!
Octavio Gimenez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gimenez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Octavio Gimenez!