PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armando Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, America Fuck Yeah. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gracie
vs
Lucas

170 cm
25
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
185 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Dauntless
RAGS of a RONIN

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Armando Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Lucas's guard.
Gracie postures up in Lucas's guard and throws a big left but Lucas blocks it.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gracie is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at London MMA Club that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Gracie 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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lucas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Lucas is retaining full guard.
Lucas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Lucas blocks nicely.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Lucas keeps moving.
Lucas looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lucas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.

Lucas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Lucas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Lucas!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Lucas working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lucas keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Lucas throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gracie stays in close to Lucas's body and controls the position.
Gracie postures up in Lucas's guard and throws a big left but Lucas blocks it.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Lucas keeps moving.
Lucas is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Gracie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lucas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gracie controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Gracie showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lucas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gracie trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.
Lucas 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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie stands and throws Lucas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lucas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armando Gracie dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lucas moves into the clinch.
Lucas's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lucas's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Gracie decides to pull guard.
Gracie is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Lucas defends easily.
Gracie has control of Lucas's left arm, preventing Lucas from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucas wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.

Lucas drops back looking for a leg! Gracie is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gracie manages to kick Lucas off! Lucas jumps back into Gracie's guard.
Gracie is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Lucas defends easily.
Lucas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Lucas is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Gracie wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Gracie isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lucas stacks Gracie 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 Lucas!
Gracie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lucas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lucas prevents Gracie from improving his position.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lucas trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Lucas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lucas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lucas's back!
Lucas wants to control his opponent's hands but Gracie gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with strikes from the back.
Gracie throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Gracie thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Gracie struggling to land strikes to the head as Lucas covers up.
Lucas just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gracie thows a strike but Lucas uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Lucas as he ends up in Gracie 's guard!
Lucas stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Gracie throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lucas uses it to pass to side control.
Gracie gets back to half guard.

Lucas 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.
Lucas slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lucas pulls his head out easily.
Gracie trying to control here.
Gracie controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lucas prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie wants to get back to full guard but Lucas has passed into side control.
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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 Armando Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lucas's head.
Gracie is keen to just control but Lucas is a slippery customer.
Gracie is taking a breather. Lucas 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 missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gracie throwing shots but Lucas is blocking nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lucas wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie drops an elbow to the side of Lucas's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throwing shots but Lucas is blocking nicely.
Lucas wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Lucas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie throwing shots but Lucas is blocking nicely.
Lucas tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lucas's head.
Gracie lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gracie keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Lucas is having none of it.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lucas is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lucas avoid being mounted?
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie thows a huge punch but Lucas dodges it nicely.
Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lucas is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lucas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gracie trying to control but Lucas is working from the bottom.

Lucas working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
Lucas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Lucas is keeping the position.
Gracie slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Lucas wants to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lucas sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucas can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is trying to escape the position but Gracie is controlling the position.
Lucas stops Gracie from passing to mount.
Lucas is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Lucas!
Gracie avoids the attempt from Lucas to control.
Gracie misses with a head shot.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Lucas is squirming around nicely.
Gracie thowing shots but they're missing.
Lucas can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Gracie there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie unloads with some shots from mount but Lucas bucks and avoids them well.
Gracie raining down shots from the mount!
Lucas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Lucas is squirming around nicely.
Lucas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gracie thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!
Steve Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lucas holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gracie looking to control but Lucas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armando Gracie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gracie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armando Gracie!
A very excited looking Armando Gracie rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.