PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Junior Carson (ranked 6640 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Gracie (ranked 4463 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Carson
vs
Gracie

168 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

159 cm
25
142 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Junior Carson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carson shoots in and bounces Gracie off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Carson stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Carson throwing strikes but missing.
Carson stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie has Carson pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gracie working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Carson has passed into half guard!
Carson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Carson is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carson prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Carson drops an elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Nice strikes from Carson there.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Carson is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Carson landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carson is one step ahead there.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Carson from controlling successfully.
Carson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Carson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Carson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Carson manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie won't allow Carson to sweep him here.
Carson trying to control the position.
Carson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson wants to sweep but no luck.
Carson keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Carson 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.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Carson keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gracie passes Carson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gracie controlling the action here.
Carson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Carson is keeping the position.

Carson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Carson keeps moving.
Gracie is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Carson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junior Carson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Carson.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Carson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Carson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Carson is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carson struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Carson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.
Carson tries to bench press Gracie off him but Gracie keeps the position.

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!
Carson is looking for a sweep.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Carson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson manages to get back to half guard.
Gracie passes the guard and advances to mount!
Gracie controlling the position easily from mount.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Carson is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Carson is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Carson looks a forlorn figure.
Nick Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Carson is looking to escape.

Gracie wants to finish this one by submission but Carson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Gracie.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson has given up his back.

Gracie is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Carson has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Carson can't escape the position.
Carson looking very determined here, making life difficult for Gracie.
Carson is really stuck here.
Carson trying to control the hands but Gracie breaks the grip.

Gracie is looking for the choke from the back position but Carson is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Carson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Carson is in bad spot here.
Gracie avoiding Carson 's attempts to control his hands.

Gracie looking for the choke from the back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gracie avoiding Carson 's attempts to control his hands.
Carson tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie gets the takedown into side control.
Gracie in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gracie working the ground and pound.
Carson is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.
A lull in the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Carson is avoiding damage well.
Carson is trying to buck Gracie off.

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Carson, who protects the arm well.
Gracie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Carson keeps Gracie under control for a moment.
Gracie working the strikes but Carson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carson is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Carson keeping control of the position.
Carson tries to kick Gracie off but Gracie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Carson actively working from the bottom here.
Carson trying to control but Gracie postures up.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Carson defending well.
Carson is trying to stand back up but Gracie is controlling him
Carson wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Carson as he avoids it easily.
Carson lands with a hook. Gracie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Carson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie with the counter takedown but Carson avoids it easily.
Carson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carson wants it to stay on the feet.
Carson throws a nice head kick!
Carson throws a head kick that half lands.
Carson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Gracie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Carson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Carson struggling a bit here.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carson wants to control but Gracie postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Gracie!
Nick Gracie decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.