PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ramon Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Warror (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Jiu Jitsu: Vai Finaliza!. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Warror

180 cm
27
180 lbs
18 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
180 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Aspire Nutrition

Urban Fighter
Venom Combat Sports

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ramon Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Warror!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Warror looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Warror has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Warror is defending well.
Gracie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Warror is avoiding damage well.

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!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Warror is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warror is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Warror tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Warror defends it.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Warror keeps working.

That's two 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 thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Warror is having none of it.
Gracie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gracie is trying to take his opponent's back.
Gracie controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie tries to control but Warror wriggling away.
Gracie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Warror is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Gracie moves to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie controlling from the back.

Warror fending off the submission attempt from Gracie.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Warror scores with a punch to the head.
Warror throws a body shot but no joy.
Gracie tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Warror manages to circle out of the way.
Warror looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie is looking to counter the offense by Warror and move into the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gracie.

Warror gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Warror has Gracie pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Warror is retaining full guard.
Warror is trying to keep Gracie in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Warror can't keep his opponent in guard - Gracie advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Warror tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.
Ramon Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gracie trying to control from half guard but Warror is working away.

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 is looking to stall here but Warror recovers full guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Warror is keeping the position.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gracie passes Warror's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Warror wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Warror is holding on to half guard well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warror wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Warror wants to sweep but Gracie has passed to side control!
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gracie tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

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 trying to control the action but Warror is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramon Gracie dominated that second 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.

Gracie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Warror.
Gracie is looking to counter the offense by Warror and move into the clinch.
Warror throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gracie throws a looping overhand right but Warror ducks down to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Warror.
Gracie tries to stall but Warror uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gracie fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gracie stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie pushes Warror back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Warror misses with a punch on the inside.
Gracie slows down the pace here.
Warror softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gracie is stalling here.
Gracie misses with a hook from the clinch.
I was talking to Gracie's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Warror tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracie's elbow.
Warror throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Warror lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Warror misses with the head strike.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Warror turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Gracie drags the fight down to the ground.
Gracie working a defensive guard but Warror manages to pass into side control anyway.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Warror is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard but Warror has mounted him!
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!
Gracie wants to hold on but Warror pushes him away.
Warror can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gracie is looking to escape.
Warror prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Warror 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Warror trying to control but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is trying to escape the mount.
Warror controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie wants to hold on but Warror pushes him away.
Gracie regains half guard.
Gracie gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Warror is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie.
Gracie wants to control but Warror postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Warror really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Warror tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Gracie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Warror can do to turn this around?
Warror misses the shot to the body.
Gracie attempts a counter takedown but Warror avoids it well and moves away.
Gracie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Warror avoids it really well and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Warror.
Gracie throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warror throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gracie slips a straight right by Warror.
Warror throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Warror swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Warror sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Warror lands with a nice body punch.
Gracie slips under a jab.
Warror misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gracie ducks under a wild hook from Warror.
Gracie slips under a jab from Warror.
Warror throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gracie sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gracie attempts a counter takedown but Warror avoids it well and moves away.
Warror cracks Gracie with a good jab.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Warror moved away.
Gracie avoids the body shot from Warror.
Warror throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Warror misses the body punch

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Warror fights it but they end up in guard.
Warror has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Warror is working from the bottom.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Warror's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie is keen to just control but Warror is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Warror looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Warror throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Warror waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Gracie wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gracie ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gracie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracie moves away from the strike by Warror.

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.
Warror misses with an uppercut.
Nice cross by Warror.
Warror scores with a spinning back kick!
Warror throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gracie.
Warror throws a body shot but no joy.
Warror works Gracie's body with a nice hook.
Gracie throws a jab when Warror was well out of range.
Gracie defending well as Warror loads up on a big left hand.
Warror misses with a hook

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Gracie is fighting to break Warror's control of his arms but Warror is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Warror working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Warror dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Gracie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Warror. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Warror keeps it at a distance.
Warror swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Warror keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Warror misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Warror turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Warror holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Gracie blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warror tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie is leaning against Warror and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Warror uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Warror or not.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Warror smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramon Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gracie.
Gracie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gracie seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Gracie slips a jab from Warror.
Gracie tries to counter by clinching up but Warror breaks away and moves out of range.
Gracie takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Gracie rushes Warror and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Warror to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Warror stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Warror got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Warror has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Warror defends it easily.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Warror is sitting in close to Gracie's body. Gracie has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Warror is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Warror is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ramon Gracie!
Ramon Gracie retains his welterweight title!
In his post fight interview, Ramon Gracie started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.