PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Gracie (ranked 4336 p4p, 224 weight class) and Matt Rascal (ranked 4884 p4p, 248 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Gracie
vs
Rascal

168 cm
25
146 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Gracie!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Rascal!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rascal sprawls well. Rascal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rascal tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rascal to the ground. Rascal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rascal closes the distance and clinches.
Rascal works on Gracie's body with a couple of short punches.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Rascal holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rascal is working Gracie over against the cage.
Rascal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gracie jumps guard but Rascal stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rascal smiles and moves away.
Santiago Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Rascal is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gracie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rascal defends well and Gracie ends up having to push Rascal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rascal forces Gracie back against the cage and clinches.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Rascal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rascal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie jumps guard but Rascal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gracie fails to pull guard.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rascal walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie fails with the takedown

and Rascal counters with a left and a right that hurts Gracie! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Rascal jumps into full mount!

Gracie is rocked!
Rascal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oh Gracie is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Let's hope that Rascal has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gracie seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rascal throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Rascal throwing strikes here but Gracie is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rascal controlling the action here.
Rascal 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.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rascal pulls his head out easily.
Rascal is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rascal perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rascal pulls his head out easily.
Rascal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gracie does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rascal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rascal showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rascal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rascal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Rascal doesn't defend quickly enough and Gracie has managed to lock this one up! Can Rascal escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Gracie on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Santiago Gracie!
Santiago Gracie is the new bantamweight champion!
A victorious Santiago Gracie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.