PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nelson Gracie (ranked 5477 p4p, 105 weight class) and Helio Santos Jr (ranked 5336 p4p, 381 weight class). Helio Santos Jr is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Gracie
vs
Santos Jr

174 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
146 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nelson Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Santos Jr!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie avoids a kick to the body.
That kick from Santos Jr tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Santos Jr.
Gracie motions for Santos Jr to come forward. Gracie throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santos Jr flicks out a counter leg kick but Gracie steps away.
Santos Jr slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Santos Jr loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Santos Jr has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Santos Jr and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Santos Jr unleashes a big counter combination but Gracie bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Santos Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos Jr throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Santos Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santos Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Santos Jr lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gracie takes a step back to recover.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
It seemed like Santos Jr was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jab from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Gracie blocks the low kick.
Santos Jr throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Santos Jr misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr lands a nice looking body kick.
Santos Jr slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Santos Jr is looking for the big counter here.
Santos Jr comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Gracie misses the shot to the body.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Santos Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Santos Jr.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Gracie moves out of range as Santos Jr strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Gracie. Those never looked like landing.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses.
Santos Jr throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Santos Jr uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Santos Jr lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Santos Jr throws a front kick that sends Gracie stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
As Gracie backs off Santos Jr throws a huge counter combo but Gracie manages to avoid it all.
Santos Jr dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Gracie on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Santos Jr. Santos Jr obviously looking to wear him down.
Santos Jr connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Santos Jr throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Santos Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Santos Jr misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Santos Jr avoids them all with ease.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Santos Jr makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Santos Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Santos Jr scores with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos Jr lands with a kick to the temple. Gracie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A slow jab from Gracie misses its intended target.
An inside leg kick lands from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos Jr throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Santos Jr dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santos Jr.
Gracie has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gracie avoids the head kick by Santos Jr.
Gracie will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Santos Jr tries a quick counter leg kick but Gracie is wise to it.
Santos Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A swing and a miss from Gracie.
Santos Jr misses with a low kick.
Santos Jr lands with a slapping head kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Santos Jr checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos Jr slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Santos Jr moves out of range of the body kick from Gracie.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Santos Jr checks it.
Santos Jr misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Santos Jr blocks the leg kick.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Santos Jr.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr is breathing heavily.
Santos Jr throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Gracie might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Santos Jr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Santos Jr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A punch combination from Santos Jr misses.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Santos Jr.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Santos Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Santos Jr.
Santos Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Santos Jr has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Santos Jr and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Gracie is looking to land body kicks.
Santos Jr takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Santos Jr misses with a body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Gracie blocks the leg kick.
Santos Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Santos Jr.
A combination from Gracie does no damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos Jr fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santos Jr lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gracie's sensitive parts.
Santos Jr throws a body kick that misses.
Gracie blocks a low kick nicely.
Santos Jr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gracie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santos Jr tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Santos Jr throws a sloppy head kick
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santos Jr avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Santos Jr misses with a leg kick.
Gracie swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santos Jr throws a counter combo.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Santos Jr counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Gracie misses with a leg kick.
Santos Jr is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Helio Santos Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Santos Jr throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie misses with the combination.
Santos Jr throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Santos Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Santos Jr moves out of range of the body kick.
Santos Jr throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Santos Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Gracie.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Santos Jr swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santos Jr looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gracie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Santos Jr was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Santos Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Santos Jr throws a front kick aimed at Gracie's knee but Gracie avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Santos Jr can pounce on him.
Gracie misses with a double jab.
Santos Jr is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Gracie with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Santos Jr throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gracie throws a quick counter head kick but Santos Jr was just out of range.
No joy there for Gracie, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie motions for Santos Jr to come forward. Gracie throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santos Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Santos Jr is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gracie rather than just go for the knockout.
Gracie tries to bum rush Santos Jr with a series of wild strikes but Santos Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gracie is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie throws a right hand that Santos Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Santos Jr also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Santos Jr.
Gracie throws a big counter combination but Santos Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Santos Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
Santos Jr blocks a jab.
Santos Jr looks to land a body kick but Gracie moved away.
Santos Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Santos Jr lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Santos Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Gracie throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Santos Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santos Jr fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Santos Jr checks it.
Santos Jr throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.
Santos Jr moves out of range of the leg kick from Gracie.
Gracie slips under a jab from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr blocks a head kick by Gracie.
Gracie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Santos Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Gracie moves out of range easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Santos Jr.
Santos Jr thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
Santos Jr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santos Jr lands a lovely overhand right.
Santos Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracie blocks a head kick by Santos Jr.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santos Jr throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie staying out of range there.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Santos Jr.

And that's the end of the fight!
Helio Santos Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Santos Jr has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Helio Santos Jr!